HELD (BACK) Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

held back

verb

past tense of hold back

as in hampered

to create difficulty for the work or activity of the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation

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as in stifled

to refrain from openly showing or uttering held back her tears until she was alone

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of held back The funds will be held back from schools until early next year, when California’s new governor can reassess the financial landscape with a clearer picture of revenues. — Charlie Borla, Oc Register, 9 July 2026 Note that the latest indication is that the first foldable iPhone will be announced at the same keynote as the Pro and Pro Max, but may be held back for a later release. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 But Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Stjepan Radelijic held back Sergiño Dest just outside the box, forcing the referee to pull out a yellow card and give the USMNT a grade-A opportunity to pull away a bit in the 80th minute. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 During the press tour, Zendaya and Holland haven't held back with their red carpet style, especially the Euphoria star, who has taken the superhero theme to new heights. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Sequential integration for CFETs One of the biggest barriers that’s held back sequential processes is the scorching temperatures needed to make high-quality transistors. — IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026 This never held back the Kennedys before. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 24 June 2026 Muñoz scored in the 76th minute after the Colombians had been held back by a strong performance from Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who made five difficult saves in the first 20 minutes. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 Greenspan held back, trusting that institutions risking their own money would not risk too much, Blinder said. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for held back

Verb

India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil, so the war hampered vehicles that need gasoline and millions of homes and restaurants that need LPG.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
FireSat will help incident commanders get better information more quickly, and, unlike fire-spotting aircraft, the satellites can linger over a fire for days or weeks and aren’t hampered by high winds or smoke.

— Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of hampered

Verb

The Great American State Fair kicked off last week, though the 16-day event has been hindered by weather shutdowns, technical difficulties and low attendance.

— Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Smith has long complained that Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, hindered the province’s energy industry and fueled separatist sentiment.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of hindered

Verb

The air force said that 37 missiles and 326 drones were shot down or otherwise suppressed, with impacts of 29 missiles and 18 drones reported across 34 locations.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Security forces suppressed the protests in a bloody crackdown that killed thousands.

— Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 3 July 2026

Definition of suppressed

Verb

Supporters had campaigned for Merlin to be allowed into the Azteca to witness Mexico’s final group game — but the dabbler found his free passage impeded on Wednesday evening by FIFA regulations.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026
The Sugar Act directly impeded colonial drinking, as molasses is a key ingredient in rum.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Definition of impeded

Verb

Arrax was the first of these creatures to die when he and his rider, Rhaenyra's son Prince Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), were swallowed up by Aemond's Vhagar in the season 1 finale.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
Each player swallowed a biometric tablet, about the size of a large vitamin, so that scientists could see how well his body cooled itself.

— Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Definition of swallowed

Verb

At one point, the narrator, embarrassed by his own act of cruelty, gives a sobbing woman all his money and then leaves her alone in a hotel room.

— Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 1 July 2026
The Chicago White Sox, a team many left for dead at the start of the year, embarrassed the Kansas City Royals Friday night, 22-1.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026

Definition of embarrassed

Verb

The road was so packed that his feet disappeared along the pavement, obstructed from view by those leading and those lagging behind.

— Sam McDowell July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
One of the suspects also assaulted and sprayed paint on a person, and when officers tried to detain the suspects several blocks away at Turk and Taylor streets, other people surrounded and obstructed the officers, police said.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 1 July 2026